Aberdeen Group - Retail Store Operations Benchmark Report
"Automated Workforce Management Improves Performance"
Today Workforce Management (WFM) is playing a pivotal role in shaping performance management in retail stores. Best in Class retailers are setting themselves apart from the rest when it comes to increased employee retention and bottom-line performance due to better WFM processes.
As a result of superior store manager and associate empowerment, use of WFM analytics, and optimum staffing, 80% of Best in Class have improved or met their labour turnover rate goals, indicating that effective WFM programs and procedures are in place.
The report shows that WFM processes assisted 63% of Best in Class companies improve operating profit as a percent of sales. Reasons for superior Best in Class performance when compared to Average and Laggard retailers are:
- Better use of scheduling optimization solutions for effective staffing
- Increasing WFM analytics solutions for store operations performance management
- Greater implementation of employee self-service HR (paid time-off, FMLA, benefits etc.) and training applications (retail processes: workforce, inventory, other retail policies and procedures)
The results show that automation and integration are playing a key role in the workforce management strategies of retailers.